Safety fuel-tank for automobiles.



No. 70|,754. l Patented l'uma 3, |902.

T. w. Mon/m. SAFETY FUEL TANK FUR AUTOMOBILES.

(Application led In'. HBL 1901.) (Il o M o d el.)

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` UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.f

THOMAS WILLIAM MORAN, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

SAFETY FU EL-TANK vFOR AUTOMOBILES.

SPECIFICATION formingl part of Letters Patent No. 701,754, datedJune 3, 1902. Application filed March 28, 1901. Serial No. 53,202. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom in' may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS WILLIAM Mo-` RAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Louisville, in the county of Jefferson and State of Kentucky, have made a certain new and useful Invention .in Safety Fuel Tanks for Automobiles,Fire*Engines,&c. 5 and I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the invention, reference being had to the accompanying'drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a cross-section of a fuel-tank having my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view of my invention. Fig. 3 illustrates a further modiication of my invention.

This invention relates to safety fuel-tanks for automobiles, nre-engines, launches, or the like, and has for its object the provision of an automatically-acting safety-valve for the feed-pipe of the tank to the burner and which will in the event of fracture or breakage of such pipe, accidentally or otherwise, automatically cut off the fuel-feed at the tank and prevent such fuel from blowing off or escaping under the pressure to whichit is subjected, thereby avoiding danger of fire, exploson, destruction of the vehicle, and possible loss of life by t-he gasolene or vapor thereof coming in contact with the burner or the heated furnace.

With this object in view the invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts, all as hereinafter described, and pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the letter A designates the ordinary fuel-tank of an automobile, B the pipe connecting the same with the air-pressure supply, and C the fuel-feed pipe to the burner. The tank is provided with an inlet in its ywall about midway of its height for this pipe` C, which eX- tends therefrom to the bottom'of the tank.

D D are two members'of the valve-chamber, the part D having a shoulderd abutting against the inside of the'tank-wall, an inner end portion CZ upon one side'of said shoulder and internally threaded to connect with the pipe C,and an outer end portion dioxtending through the tank-wall upon the opposite side of said shoulder and provided with an external screw-thread for connection with the valve-chamber member D', which has a suitable wrench-seat. Such part D has a revoluble extension D2, having an internal screwthread for connection with the feedpipe, a section of which is cut outv to provide room for such parts.

In the valve-chamber is the ball or other suitable valve E, a seat for such valve being provided upon one side upon an annular shoulder d3 of part D, which is reduced in diameter beyond such shoulder and formed with a second annular shoulder d4, a coilspring F being located in such reduced portion, bearing upon said shoulder d4 and provjecting a little beyond valve-seat d3 to normally hold the valve away therefrom. Upon the opposite side of the valve a seat is provided therefor at d5 upon the end portion of revoluble extension D2, such extension having an' internal annular shoulder d, upon which bears the coil-spring F', which spring projects a little beyond valve-seat d5 to normally hold the valve away therefrom. The ball-valve E, which is partly inclosed by the coil-springs, is thus normally suspended or balanced therebetween and between the two valve-seats to allow free passage for the fuel, which is fed very slowly and gradually under pressure, such feed being held in check by the increased volume of the fuel as it is vaporized in passing over the lire and by the turn-cock for feeding to the burner.

My device as described is forthe purpose of providing a safety fuel-tank for automobiles, dac., or for attachment to automobiles in use by cutting out a section of the feedpipe and applying the devices thereto, and the parts are readily detachable for purpose of cleaning, repair, &c. A similar safetyvalve device is applied to the air-inlet pipe B at B and acting in a similar manner to cut olf air-pressure in case the air-pipe should be accidentally broken;

In Fig. 3 I have illustrated a furthermodification of the device, wherein the revoluble extension D2, which in this case is made in T form, is provided with an adjustable stem ne, having a screw-threaded engagement with such extension, such stem being provided IOO with a suitable wrench-seat at its end portion and being adapted to be brought against the valve to unseat the same in case such should become necessary. The stem is guarded and inclosedvby a cap x', having a screw engagement With the extension D2.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A safety fueltank connected with a source of pressure, and provided with a feedpipe to a burner, said tank having a valve device consisting of two tubular members, each member having a chamber, and an annular shoulder or abutment in rear of said chamber, one of said members having a valveseat at its inner extremity, the screw-sleeve connecting said members together, the coilsprings in the chambers of said members, and

2o havinga bearing against said abutments, and

the ball-valve between said springs, and inclosed thereby, substantially as speciied.

2. A safety fuel-tank for automobiles connected with a source of pressure, and provided with a feed-pipe to a burner, said tank having a valve device consisting of the two members, each chambered .for the reception of a coil-spring, one of said members having a valve-seat at its inner extremity, the screwsleeve connecting said members together, the coil-springs in the chambers of said members, the valve between said springs, and means for forcing said valve from its seat when required, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS WILLIAM MORAN. lVitnesses:

E. E. SUTTON, H. V. SANDERS. 

